Switch-operating mechanism.



No. 807,486. PATENTED DEC. 19, 1905..

J. A. MGOASKEY. SWITCH OPERATING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED APR.17 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

No. 807,486. PATENTED DEG. 19,1905.

J. A. MoCASKEY.

SWITCH OPERATING MEO'HANISM.

APPLICATION FILED APR.17. 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Fzgiza hwanifoz Parana orrrcni.

JOHN A. MOOASKEY, OF HUBBARD, OHIO.

SWlTCH-OPERATING WI ECHANISIW.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 19, 1905.

Application filed April 17, 1905. Serial No. 256,084.

To all whmn it may conlccrn:

. Be it known that I, J OHN A. McOAsKEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hubbard, in the county of Trumbull and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Switch-Operating Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

This invention involves improvements in that type of street-railway switches designed to be operated by means carried by the rolling-stock approaching the switch.

The invention consists of track-operating devices connected with the switch point or points to directly actuate the same, the invention embodying a trip-lever adapted to be actuated by means of a shoe, trip-bar, or like member carried by the engine or rolling-stock which passes over the track.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a switch and operating mechanism therefor constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a top plan view, relative positions of the trip-lever being shown in full and dotted lines. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional View taken on the line X X of-Fig. 2. Fig. 1 is a perspective View showing the parts of the operating mechanism separated, the switchpoint being shown in dotted lines.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

Referring to the drawings, the construction of the switch which is illustrated and preferably utilized in the embodiment of this invention is of that class in which a single switchpoint is operated to enable the train to take the siding, and the numeral 1 indicates the main rails of the track, the numeral 2 designating the siding or switch rails. The switchpoint 3 operates between adjacent siding and main rails of the track and is of a conventional construction pivoted at one end, as shown at 4. Arranged transversely of the track approximately at a point where the siding-rails join the main rails of the track and between the main rails is a casing or housing 5, which incloses certain parts of the operating mechanism, the designs of the housing being indicated at 6.

Extending longitudinally between the rails 1 of the track and across the casing 5 is asurface plate 7, the upper surface of which is preferably flush with the top of the casing, a

vertical end plate 8 supporting the surface plate 7 at an end, said plate 8 being secured to ties or otherwise mounted. The trip-lever 9 operates above or upon the plate 7 approxi mately at a point intermediate the ends of the latter, and said trip-lever has the extremities thereof beveled, as indicated at 9. The plate 7 is provided with an opening through which a tubular stud 10 projects from the under side of the lever 9, intermediatethe ends of the latter, said stud receiving the upper end of a shaft 11, which latter is mounted in a bushing 12, extending outwardly from and integral with a plate 13, which is secured to the under side of the plate 7. The plate 13 is preferably of circular formation, and the hollow portion of the bushing 12 is enlarged near the upper extremity of the bushing, as shown at 14:, forming a shoulder 15, upon which the stud 10 of the lever 9 rests. The shaft 11 has the lower extremity thereof projecting downwardly from the bushing 12, and a short crank 16 is carried at this portion of the shaft for movement therewith. The lever 9 is likewise secured to the shaft 11, so as to actuate this shaft when the trip device carried by the engine or car strikes the lever 9. The crank 16 is connected with the switch-point 3 by means of a bar 17. The bar 17 is pivotally connected with the crank 10, as shown at 18, the opposite end having pivotal connection with the point 3 between the ends of the latter, as shown at 19.

The parts of the device are compactly arranged and housed, so that the operation of the same is not likely to be interfered with by entrance of foreign matter or adverse conditions of the weather. Further, the parts are simply constructed and ready access thereto may be had whenever necessary. The operation of the mechanism is also simple. When a car approaches the side from the direction indicated by the arrow, the trip member 20 (shown in dotted lines) will come into contact with an extremity of the lever 9, said trip member being directed accurately thereto by means of a surface plate 7, with which the trip member may come into contact. As soon as the trip member strikes the lever 9 said lever is moved to a position shown in the dotted lines in Fig. 2, and this movement of the lever actuates the shaft 11 and the crank 16. The movement of the crank 16 willshift said crank and the bar 17 will operate the switch-point so that the train may take the siding.

It will be understood, of course, that the trip member of the train may not be lowered to actuate the lever 9, according to the desire of the operator and dependent upon whether it is necessary to operate the point 3. The formation of the ends of the lever 9 facilitates the passage of the trip member by the same in a manner readily apparent.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is In switch-operating mechanism, the combination of main and siding rails, a pivoted switch-point, a transverse casing arranged-between the main rails at the switch, a longitudinal surface plate between the main rails and extending across the casing flush with the top thereof, a vertical shaft mounted Within the casing and extending through the surface plate, a plate attached to the under side of the surface plate and provided witha bushing extending downwardly therefrom and receiving the shaft aforesaid, the hollow poi tion of said bushing being enlarged near its upper end to form a shoulder, a trip-lever above the surface plate and provided intermediate its ends with a tubular stud projecting from the under side thereof and secured to the shaft, said stud resting on. the shoulder-forrn inthe bushing, the lower end of the shaft projecting from the bushing, acrank WILLIAM MULBERT, M. B. WHITE. 

